Tungsten Carbide is a pretty amazing material. It is well known for its density and durability, and is used for many industrial applications - as well as for rings. Its rare and unique qualities is what allows it to be the perfect durable, beautiful substitute for gold, platinum and silver in jewelry. Many jewelers offer pure tungsten wedding bands which lack the hardness of tungsten carbide and can scratch quite easily. Some offer tungsten rings made with cobalt binder because it is cheaper to produce than nickel-binder carbide. We caution you against buying from a jeweler that doesn't specify that their tungsten wedding bands are made with the nickel binder alloy. Many stores don't list which alloy they are selling because they don't know which alloy they are selling. If they don't know, it is most likely cobalt alloy or pure tungsten which are cheaper and inferior to the nickel binder tungsten carbide wedding bands.

However, there are many different ways that tungsten can be processed and turned into jewelry. Buyers of tungsten carbide rings - whether a men's tungsten carbide rings intended to hold up to tough use, or custom tungsten carbide wedding sets intended to last a lifetime - need to be aware of the different formulations that some jewelry manufacturers use. Some formulations do not offer the durability most tungsten ring buyers want!

Tungsten carbide Rings are not made of pure tungsten ore. Instead, the tungsten ore is mixed with various binders (materials) - such as nickel and sinter - at high temperatures to create a ceramic (tungsten carbide). Not every tungsten ring advertised is tungsten carbide. There are manufacturers making rings out of tungsten alloy, a soft, non-sintered metal that is easier to process and manufacture. These alloys lack the hardness needed to create a highly polished and scratch-resistant surface.

Tungsten Carbide is commonly referred to as the engagement band that is permanently polished. Tungsten carbide is the most durable ring anybody can purchase. Tungsten by itself could shatter when dropped and easily cracks due to its unique hardness, so therefore requires carbide to prevent shattering. On its own, tungsten is vulnerable to scratches and damage just like any other metal, such as titanium and steel. Tungsten does not gain its extreme hardness until it is combined with a carbon alloy, transferring it into tungsten carbide (WC) with a hardness between 8.5 and 9.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Tungsten carbide is four times harder than titanium, twice as hard as steel, is virtually indestructible, and has been widely used for decades in industrial applications such as cutting tools, mining machinery, and rocket engine nozzles.

Tungsten carbide Rings are not made of pure tungsten ore. Instead, the tungsten ore is mixed with various binders (materials) - such as nickel and sinter - at high temperatures to create a ceramic (tungsten carbide). Not every tungsten ring advertised is tungsten carbide. There are manufacturers making rings out of tungsten alloy, a soft, non-sintered metal that is easier to process and manufacture. These alloys lack the hardness needed to create a highly polished and scratch-resistant surface.

Learn more about tungsten wedding ring and find the best tungsten carbide wedding band at Tungsten Rings and Bands!